I am a firm believer, and have said it many times, that healthy food can taste good. And my simple, one-bowl Lemon Poppy Seed Bread is proof. I love the comment after a taste test or meal, “I can’t believe that is good for me!” With bright, fresh lemon this makes a wonderful weekend Spring brunch addition, any day snack, or dessert for your table. Try serving with a Spring Vegetable Frittata.

Unsweetened applesauce is an easy substitution for typically highly refined, large doses of oil found in baked goods. Almond and coconut flours are not only grain free, but also helpful choices for people struggling with diabetes – used in this recipe one slice contains only 10g carbs and 4g natural sugar, when using Stevia to sweeten.

Pure almond extract (or vanilla) add natural sweetness without loads of calories (please note the word pure, no imitation products). Often gluten free baking mixes, or pre-baked pastries are pumped with sugar. Regularly, sugar is the first or second ingredient listed on box nutrition labels. And ingredients are listed from the highest quantities used to the least.

Friends and family will never know this moist, flavorful bread is healthy and grain free. So delicious, I just had three slices this morning with a steamy mug of coffee, and I’m resisting a fourth.

You’d never know these grain free muffins are made with coconut flour. They’re light, fluffy, moist and packed with juicy blueberries. Whether you’re looking for an easy gluten and dairy free pastry Christmas morning or not, these gems are spectacular. The whole family will love them, allergen free eater or not.

Easily make ahead and freeze for a weekday treat. And feel free to toss in berries straight from the freezer. Simple is the new sophisticated.

A few other dishes to add to your Christmas or holiday breakfast/brunch…

Can I just say “wow”? Yes, “wow” is the only description needed. One of the best gluten and dairy free healthy baked goods I’ve made, or eaten, to date. And only 120 calories and 12g of carbs per slice!

Three wonderfully rich combinations coconut, chocolate and almond. Imitating the flavors of the popular Almond Joy candy bar, allergen free or not you’ll absolutely love this one.

I wrapped all cake wedges individually, placing five in the fridge and five in the freezer. Top with a scoop of cold coconut milk ice cream, sprinkle of coconut, drizzle of melted chocolate, creamy Greek yogurt or fresh sweet berries. So, so, so good. I’ll be the first to admit I ate some for breakfast this morning and it was delightful with hot coffee.

Growing up in a small town I realize not everyone has easy access to health food products. Take heart, with the world wide web ingredients are at your finger tips and delivered straight to your door. Honeyville is a great brand you can find online at Amazon (www.amazon.com) or their website (www.honeyville.com) and fairly reasonably priced. I use Sweet Leaf liquid stevia drops (also found on Amazon or health food store) the clear which is flavorless, but they come in a variety of flavors from hazelnut to chocolate, lemon and more.

If you are looking for a good, solid strength training workout this one is spot on. Designed to give you lean (not bulky) muscles by combining upper and lower body to keep your heart rate up, burning extra calories. All that’s needed is a set of 3 or 4 lb weights and a good ol’ DVD player. Purchase at some Targets, Walmart or online (again Amazon is where I got mine).

Pumpkin bars are one of my most craved treats this time of year. The original recipes can be weighed down with oil, white flour and saturated fats. In my book there is always “a better way” to make everyday and seasonally loved dishes more nutritious, yet just as enjoyable.

Okay, are you ready? Your mind is about to be blown. These bars (with cream cheese frosting) are only 140 calories per bar! Yes, are you rejoicing with me? Your quest for a healthy fall dessert has just ended my healthy friends. Pumpkin and applesauce replace the oil and butter, keeping them moist and delicious. Whole wheat flour and light cream cheese sub in for their higher fat, nutritionally insignificant counterparts.

If you are doubting the taste I beg you to give these a try – one bite will change your outlook. A great way to involve your kids in healthy baking: scoop small amounts of frosting into sandwich size zip bags, snip the corner with scissors and let your little chefs squeeze creative frosting designs onto bars.

Lemon and blueberry cry out Spring, don’t they? Said before many times, I love fresh citrus. And combining with wild blueberries and corn, it’s enough to make me dance, shout and run around… outside because it’s warm, while eating one of these muffins of course.

packed with antioxidant rich blueberries!

Almond flour shows up again here with all its nutritional properties, healthy fat and low carb content. For an easy, make ahead breakfast or snack wrap individual muffins tightly and refrigerate or freeze. Reheat slightly in microwave for a few seconds and you’ll have a warm baked treat to go with your hot coffee or tea.

Serve these sweet goodies at a spring or summer picnic. Grill up some lean chicken breasts, serve my Lemon-Blueberry Corn Muffins and Grapefruit & Avocado Mixed Greens Salad. Delicious and good for you too. Throw in some fun lawn (or in our case driveway) games and you’ve got a perfect gathering with your family or friends.

A so easy wreath to make and requires no messy glue gun. Michael’s craft store had grapevine wreaths on sale for $5 so I made the decision to make my own door hanging instead of buying a pre-made ranging from $30-60.

Steps:
1. Wrap the top of wreath with 4-inch wide burlap and tape in back with double sided tape to secure.

2. Tie ribbon the length you want to hang and make a bow at top, if you like (I used a green ombre style, 1-inch spool from Michaels with wire edges).

3. Remove berry stems and leaves from a floral sprig and stick into wreath in desired pattern.

I really don’t know where to start, or how to describe these delicious, decadent goodies. You will never, ever, ever, in your wildest dreams guess they are gluten and dairy free. No processed sugars or artificial ingredients either. Just pure, how God made them honest ingredients. AND they taste like carrot cake! Could you really get any better than that? Well, maybe some cream cheese frosting, but we won’t go there today.

These baked goods are moist, sweet and so, so healthy. Fresh shredded carrot, pure maple syrup or honey, chewy raisins and warm cinnamon spice….ahhhh, I had one warmed muffin for breakfast with a sliced pear sprinkled with cinnamon and cup of hot coffee and I was transported to a blissful Paris bakery for a brief minute (because I scarfed it down the moment unfortunately didn’t last long). Or enjoy your muffin with a couple scrambled egg whites for added protein.

Next time around I might try making these with a little more ground cinnamon, Stevia and unsweetened applesauce for some of the oil to lower the fat grams. One large muffin is so tasty, full of healthy fat and natural sugars, so one is good for breakfast or as a treat now and then. Seriously, I know I say this a lot but you’ve got to try these. Wrap individually and easily freeze or refrigerate for an anytime breakfast.Recipe slightly adapted from Tasty-Yummies blog (http://tasty-yummies.com/).

2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs together with vanilla extract, oil and maple syrup. Stir in the almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and ground flaxseed. Fold in the carrots, raisins and nuts. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan, filling each cup to a full rounded top if you want 6 large muffins.

3. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool muffins in the pan on a wire rack for five minutes. Gently remove the muffins from pan and continue cooling on the rack (don’t cool them longer than 5 minutes in the hot pan or will get soggy). Store covered tightly in fridge or freezer and just heat in microwave before eating.

Homemade holiday gifts are my favorite. They can be inexpensive, healthy and fun to make (and eat) like this Chocolate-y, cherry, banana bursting bread studded with pecan pieces. The combination of ingredients is fresh and delicious, a great hand crafted treat to deliver this joyful season.

With the substitution of low fat yogurt for half the oil, white-whole wheat flour for all white and reduced amount of sugar I slashed nutrition info of the original recipe down from 220 calories per slice to 170 per slice. And it’s still just as delicious and moist as the original – your taste buds and body won’t miss the abandoned calories, I promise.

Still shopping for a hard to buy person? I made this baked goodie into 4 mini loaves, placed a lid, added ribbon and tag to give as healthy presents to those I wanted to bless and thank this year. Pair a large loaf with a bag of coffee or assorted teas and some fresh Clementine oranges for a stunning, inexpensive gift basket for family members, friends, teachers or others you want to spread some joy to this season.

When I took this treat from the oven the first thing out of my mouth was, “these are too cute.” I understand “cute” is probably prohibited in the culinary book of words to describe food, but I couldn’t resist. I baked these warm, cinnamon bites to serve with my Turkey, Three Bean Vegetable Chili (last post) this past weekend.

No scented candle can replicate real, homemade, fall spiced baked goods rising in your oven. Great alongside a hot bowl of chili or a late morning brunch. Dough can easily be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen, then baked before serving.

1. In a small saucepan, heat the 1/2 cup milk until just below the boiling point. Don’t boil. Stir in the 2 T. canola oil, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/8 t. salt. Remove the milk mixture from the heat and cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, combine 1 pkg yeast and 2-3 T. warm water. Stir, and set aside for 5 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, beat the 1/3 cup egg whites with the milk mixture. Add the yeast in water. Using a wooden spoon or a Kitchen Aid-style countertop mixer, mix in the flours (1 1/4 c. white-wheat and 1 3/4 c. whole wheat), 1 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms, (reserve 1/4 cup white-wheat flour for kneading).

3. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured work surface (with reserved 1/4 cup flour and additional if needed) and, with floured hands, knead gently until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. If using a countertop mixer (add all flour), use a dough hook and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Return the dough to a cooking sprayed bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

4. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and brown sugar. Spray regular muffin tin cups with cooking spray.

5. Using a floured rolling-pin, roll ball of dough into a 16-by-8-inch rectangle. Spray the dough with cooking spray and spread evenly with softened butter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture and drizzle with 2 T. pure maple syrup or honey. Starting at the long side, roll up dough rectangle jelly roll style (may wrap tightly in plastic and freeze for easier slicing or later use). Slice ends and discard. Then slice roll into 16 pieces and place in prepared muffin cups. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap and let rise until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Whisk powdered sugar and orange juice until a smooth glaze forms, refrigerate until ready to use.

Okay, so do you remember that buffet I bought from the Habitat Restore a few months ago when I did my old door headboard? Well, it’s finally finished and just in time to display all my Thanksgiving dishes when family visits from Iowa.

before

after

I’m still working on the accessories and wall hangings but it’s finished and in our house. It is definitely a sturdy, well-constructed piece… they just don’t make furniture like they used to, do they?

To spruce it up I electric sanded the top (thanks to my neighbor who has a small Home Depot in his garage) to remove some scratches, stained it to match my dining table and put a couple coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White (my new favorite furniture paint) on the base. I then gave it a coat of soft wax, distressed it and then one final coat of wax. With some new hardware I’ve got a brand new dining piece for less than the cost of a new buffet. Love it.

Never going back to regular old paint for furniture again. Unless it comes in a spray can of course.

Okay, okay I know I’ve posted a lot of sweet recipes lately, but its fall and I love using flavors of the season like pumpkin, cranberries and in this case the always seasonal chocolate. Next week I’ll try to get back on the dinner train with some soups and other savory, delicious things. But for now, this recipe will wow you!

First, I have to do the stat comparison. A typical “coffee shop” pumpkin baked good is about 470 (Starbuck’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin) or 590 calories, 22g fat, 53g sugar (Panera Bread’s Pumpkin Muffin). This is a good example of “junk food” in disguise, just because a product is called a muffin made with pumpkin or blueberries, a fruit smoothie, yogurt or granola cereal doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Looking deeper at the nutrition info will reveal the truth if a product is truly better for your body.

Back to the lighter side of this post. My Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins chime in at 65 calories, 2g fat, and 5g of sugar each! Omit the chocolate chips and you have an even “skinnier” flavorful treat. The pumpkin or butternut squash puree (whichever floats your boat) keep the muffins moist and tasty.

Healthy lifestyle tip: When going for coffee with a friend, colleague, or alone, buy your coffee and then stash one or two healthy baked goods in a plastic bag or container to bring with you. Try the tactic with this pumpkin recipe, my portable low fat cherry almond muffins or blueberry banana muffins.

Because it makes a large batch, as always they are easily freezable or givable. Have a great weekend and bake away healthy eaters. (And don’t forget the NEW handy, dandy printable of this recipe below!)